Account of a fifignlar Acci-dent by Lightning. 433 



nor was this circUmftance attended to by the furgeon, hut from the genera] appearances 

 it is extremely probable that both the circulation and refpiration were completely fuf* 

 pended. In recovering from this ftate he gave a loud fcream, accompanied with confi«, 

 derable agitation of the body, but no convul five-like motion-. His- eyes had a very 

 wild appearance, and the whole countenance was remarkalny exprelTive of terror. Hie 

 foamed at the mouth and made frequent attempts to articulate, but was unable. He 

 feemed quite infenfible to what was paffing, and continued fcreeching at fliort intervals 

 for nearly two hours. Upon examining the body, the whole infide of both thighs was 

 found ftripped of the cuticle, as if the part had been bliflered and the falfe fkin removed, 

 and a few fingers of each hand \yere in the fame manner affefted. In the courfe of the 

 night his intcllefts returned, and fufFering little pain from the fnperficial burning, he 

 pafled the next and following day with little inconvenience, and in feeminggood health, 

 but could- not call to mind any of the circumftances that had taken pl.sce. .On the 16th, 

 he complained to the affiftant furgeon of a llight fcnfe of forenefs in the fkin of tlie 

 right fide of the head, with a want of feeling in one particular fpot. Upon examiuu'fg 

 the part no fore could be difcovered, but a portion of the fkin, about the fize of a 

 dollar, over the right parietal bone felt deprelfed, as if beaten in, and quite infenfible 

 to the touch. Some fpiritous application was made ufe of, and next day the part ap- 

 pearing of a darker colour than natural, the hair was removed. The fame application 

 was continued, but on the iSth, the fpot had' become quite black, felt foft, and ap- 

 peared in a ftate of gangrene. On the 19th, the gangrene feeming to extend, the 

 furgeon made a few fcarifications round the 'edges, which bringing on inflammation 

 put a flop to its further progrefs. In two days the mortified parts floughed off; and- left 

 a portion of the fcull fully the fize of a dollar, including a part of the right parietal 

 and frontal bones with the coronail future running through its middle, entirely bare and 

 denuded of the pericranium. , The wound has continued to difcharge freely of purulent 

 , matter, and the edges granulate favourably. The bone, however, has been gradually 

 becoming of a darker colour, and is now (the 7th of Aug,) entirely black in one part. 

 The difcolouration commenced at the future, and will probably extend as far as the mor- 

 tification in the fkin ; fo that before a cure can be accompliflied an extenfive exfoliation 

 muft take place. It will be fortunate if the exfoliation does not penetrate deeper than 

 the outer table of the fcull, as his life will be in imminent danger Ihould fo large a furface 

 of brain be cxpofed from fuch a eaufe. 



What appears fingular in the cafe of this man, is the fpot on the head running to 

 mortification without any evident exciting caufe, and without any previous- inflamma- 

 tion. It could not have arifen from either a blow or fall, as he was found exatfly in the 

 pofition which he had, previous to the lightning. It was no doubt an effeft-of the 

 hghtnin^, but how it Ihould have confined its influence to fo fmall an extent, and aft 



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